The morning is cloudy but quite warm, 75°. The breeze is a leaf ruffler. We are at the napping part of the day. Each dog is on one side of me, Henry to my left, Nala to my right. Henry only sleeps on that side of the couch. Nala doesn’t care which side. I’m always in the middle.

When I was a kid, our dog Duke wasn’t allowed on furniture, but he knew the ways around that. He’d lie cross the bed with only the tips of his back feet on the floor. In the mornings we could hear him get off the couch before we got downstairs, but he was sly. He never got caught. When he was really old, he used to sleep on the rug in my room. He’d lick for so long it would drive me crazy, but I would never exiled him. He was my dog.

Yesterday I missed the significance of the day. It was the first day of fall. The first day of my favorite season. To me, it is the best time to be on the cape. Mostly the tourists are gone though the weekends are still busy. The weather is lovely. Pieces of summer hang around. The days are warm while the nights are a bit cooler, crisp, perfect for sleeping. The turning leaves are mostly red and orange, especially the oak leaves. The beaches are free of crowds, and the dogs are welcome back. The roads are clear. I love to take rides. I take my time. I don’t want to miss anything.

Yesterday was the birthday of the Peace Corps. On September 22, 1961, President Kennedy signed into law the original Peace Corps Act. In the 64 years since, nearly 250,000 American citizens have proudly served our country in more than 140 nations. I am one. Ghana was the first country. I remember the almost overwhelming joy of being accepted into the Peace Corps. I had three weeks after college graduation to get ready, and the time went quickly. I left home on a Sunday. We started training in Ghana in June of 1969. We were among the first to train completely in country. I remember those first days, the amazement of waking up every day in Africa, trying new foods, learning a language and getting to know everyone. We traveled during training from one site to another up and down the country. It really didn’t take long to find my way. It really didn’t take long for me to fall in love with Ghana.

My dance card is a little fuller than it has been. I’ll be busy today, tomorrow and Saturday, but I feel good enough to take on the week.

The sun was around earlier but disappeared for a bit then came back. It is supposed to hang around all day. I was surprised by how warm it is when I let the dogs out. It is 67°. My house, as is usual this time of year, is colder. Good news for both Henry and me. His eye sockets are so much better. The anti-itch spray has worked. The bright red round his eyes is pale, nearly gone, as is the swelling. He doesn’t scratch any more. As for my leg, it too is much better. The pain is usually in the late afternoon and evening after my walking on it during the day, but it is bearable.

When I was ten, I joined the St. Patrick’s Shamrocks’ junior drill team. I had practice on Saturday mornings just learning how to march and maneuver. We didn’t compete or march in parades. Our sole purpose was to get ready for the senior drill team. I remember my first year in that drill team. I was really young. Many of the members were much older, in their teens, late teens for some. I had practice on Tuesdays and parades and competitions all summer. I remember Pleasure Island in Wakefield. It opened in 1959, and we marched through the park on opening day. Everything was free. I remember the donkey ride and the boat ride where Moby Dick rose from the depths. I remember the crooked house where everything inside was slanted. I had trouble walking. I also remember meeting the actor who played Michael Anthony on The Millionaire. He gave out fake million dollar checks. We were there the whole day.

I remember marching in the Halloween parade. We got eggs thrown at us. One egg hit my leg and the shell cracked. Egg oozed down into my boot. It was disgusting. We marched on Bunker Hill Day and St. Patrick’s Day. Sometimes we were joined by a few guys in their cups. They usually offered us a beer. We just kept marching. All these years later, I still have wonderful friends from those marching days.

My dance card is empty today. I’m still taking it easy. I have uke practice, a lesson and one concert during the rest of the week. I expect to go to all of them.